Truck of the Year for 2008: The Chevrolet Tahoe
The 2008 Tahoe is an important vehicle to Chevrolet for the sport utility market segment. The LTZ is a member of a series of four trim levels for the Tahoe which include Hybrid, LS, LT, and LTZ. The four-door truck with its rear-wheel drive is positioned to aggressively fill this niche for Chevrolet. There is strong competition from vehicles from Kia.
Stop and Go
The Tahoe LTZ is equipped with a General Motors 5.3 liter eight-cylinder engine that utilizes 16 valves. The Vortec engine is mated to a General Motors 4-speed Transmission. This configuration has proven to be a successful design for Chevrolet.
Steering control is handled through a power-steering rack-style configuration. The Tahoe comes equipped with power-assisted brakes, with 4-Wheel ABS support. The front brakes are disc while the rear brakes are disc. The truck uses coil front springs and coil in the rear.
Statistics
The Tahoe is 202.00 inches long, 79.00 inches wide, and 76.90 inches high. It has a wheelbase of 116.00 inches. It is able to seat 6 comfortably.
The original manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) was $34,630 when new, with a dealer invoice cost of $31,686. This price was in line with the industry average price for a 4-door Sport Utility.
Fuel Efficiency
For the 2008 Tahoe, the fuel configuration is a electronic SFI, using gasoline for fuel. A fuel-injected MFI configuration. The gas tank holds 26.00 gallons.
The Tahoe LTZ received a miles-per-gallon rating of 15 - 16 in-city driving and 20 - 21 when it came to highway driving. Being a gas-powered non-hybrid truck, this was within normal parameters.
Parting Shots
The 2007 model began the promise of the Chevrolet Tahoe. The 2008 expanded on this success and has proven to be a strong seller in most markets. Even with strong competition from other manufacturers Chevrolet hopes that the Tahoe LTZ will continue to be a profitable vehicle.